Cannes 2025: The Shocking Snubs, Surprises & Secret Films That Have Everyone Talking
Every year, trying to predict the Cannes Film Festival lineup feels like betting on the weather in April—you might get it right, but you're more likely to end up soaked. While some films felt like shoo-ins, this year's announcement proved once again: Cannes always has a few curveballs up its sleeve.
Let’s be real—there’s always more going on behind the scenes than just deadlines and edits. Sometimes, it’s politics. Sometimes, it's just personal taste. And sometimes... well, the festival selectors just don’t go for it.
🔥 Let’s Start with the Big "Where the Heck Are They?" Films:
Some major names were surprisingly not on the list revealed Thursday morning. These weren’t indie unknowns; we’re talking industry heavyweights and buzz-worthy projects that felt like they had to be on the Croisette. Here are some notable MIA titles:
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Spike Lee's "Highest 2 Lowest" – A reimagining of Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low, starring Denzel Washington and A$AP Rocky? That’s a red carpet dream. Plus, it’s shot by Matthew Libatique (of Black Swan and Iron Man fame). How did this not make the cut? Filming wrapped last summer, and while this could still show up out-of-competition or even as a late-breaking entry, it might also be headed to the fall circuit. But still—if you’re betting on early awards season buzz, this one’s not out of the running just yet.
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Lynne Ramsay's "Die, My Love" – Every one of Ramsay’s films has premiered at Cannes, and this one stars both Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson. That alone would’ve made it a media frenzy. The horror-comedy wrapped filming in Canada last fall, so it should’ve been good to go. With Thierry Frémaux proudly touting six women directors in competition, many expected Ramsay to be number seven. What gives?
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Jim Jarmusch's "Father, Mother, Sister, Brother" – This anthology film starring Cate Blanchett and Adam Driver has been in the can for over a year. With locations spanning New Jersey, Paris, and Dublin, and Jarmusch being a Cannes favorite (remember The Dead Don’t Die?), it’s surprising this didn’t land anywhere—yet. Stay tuned; this one could still show up.
Now, on to the films that did make it—and made jaws drop:
While some beloved auteurs were absent, others showed up strong. Cannes 2025 won’t be short on cinematic flair thanks to returning masters and some exciting new entries.
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Ari Aster’s "Eddington" – Yes, the Hereditary and Midsommar director is making his first Cannes competition appearance. This one’s already creating buzz with horror and mystery lovers.
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Kelly Reichardt’s "The Mastermind"
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Richard Linklater’s "Nouvelle Vague"
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Wes Anderson’s "The Phoenician Scheme"
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Julia Ducournau’s "Alpha" – From the Palme d’Or-winning director of Titane, this one’s got “Cannes darling” written all over it.
Also landing in the official lineup:
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Joachim Trier’s "Sentimental Value"
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Jafar Panahi’s secret project "A Simple Accident" – We’ll talk more about that below.
👀 Let’s Talk About That Jafar Panahi Reveal...
Frémaux surprised everyone by dropping "A Simple Accident" into the official competition. This new film from Iranian dissident director Jafar Panahi was made entirely in secret—we don’t know what it’s about, who’s in it, or even where it was shot. But considering Panahi's past with 3 Faces and Crimson Gold, expectations are sky-high.
And here’s where it gets deeper: Panahi has faced arrests, bans, and censorship for years. After a hunger strike in 2022, he was released from prison, and by 2023, his travel ban was finally lifted. Whether or not he’ll make it to Cannes in person remains a mystery, but if he does? That’ll be a headline-making moment.
Some other missing pieces we’re still wondering about:
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Terrence Malick’s "The Way of the Wind" – This biblical epic about Jesus has been in the editing bay for six years. Rumors say Malick is outsourcing cuts to his cast now. Classic Malick, but Cannes might’ve finally had enough.
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Bi Gan’s "Resurrection" – The Long Day’s Journey Into Night director has been crafting this experimental sci-fi mystery for years. Word is he’s still working on it, which explains the absence.
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Park Chan-wook’s "No Other Choice" – Adapted from Donald Westlake’s The Ax, this dark comedy wrapped only in January. Not quite on time for Cannes, but don’t count it out for Venice or TIFF.
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Kristen Stewart’s "The Chronology of Water" – Stewart’s directorial debut has been on radars for over a year. The film wrapped last summer and was rumored for Sundance 2025, so its Cannes absence isn’t shocking—but it’s still a bummer for fans.
📌 A Few Fun Surprises in the Mix:
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Kirill Serebrennikov’s "The Disappearance of Josef Mengele" – Surprisingly not in competition, but rather in the Cannes Premiere section. His previous entries were always part of the main slate, so this is a shift.
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Sebastián Lelio’s "The Wave" – A musical inspired by Chile’s 2018 feminist protests? Now that’s an unexpected twist. Lelio’s known for A Fantastic Woman, and this one is already catching buzz.
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Arnaud Desplechin’s "An Affair" – Not part of Thursday’s announcement, which is shocking for a French director who practically lives at Cannes.
And Don’t Forget the Power Players Behind the Scenes...
Neon—yes, the same distributor that backed Parasite, Titane, and Triangle of Sadness—is keeping its Palme d’Or streak alive. They've already snapped up North American rights to two key competition titles: "Alpha" and "Sentimental Value." After six consecutive Palme wins, it’s safe to say Neon knows how to pick ‘em.
What’s Next?
Thierry Frémaux did say that more official selections are coming. So if your favorite film didn’t make the first cut, don’t panic just yet. A lot can happen between now and May.
Also worth watching: films from auteurs like:
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László Nemes ("Orphan")
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Karim Aïnouz ("Rosebush Pruning")
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Kogonada ("A Big Bold Beautiful Journey")
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Alice Winocour ("Couture," starring Angelina Jolie)
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Nadav Lapid ("Yes!")
These might be saving themselves for Venice, Telluride, or TIFF later in the year.
In Summary:
The Cannes 2025 lineup is already shaping up to be a firestorm of talent, tension, and surprises. While some big names were mysteriously absent, others appeared with unexpected power moves. Keep your eyes on the horizon—some of these snubbed or secret films could still make waves in the coming weeks.
🎬 Whether you’re a die-hard film buff, an awards season watcher, or just someone who loves the glamour of the red carpet, Cannes is once again proving it’s the heartbeat of international cinema.
And who knows? The next Palme d’Or winner might be sitting quietly in the wings, just waiting for its moment to shine.
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